Journey Through The Undergraduate Lengths: Exploring The Art and Heart of A Rough Growth (1)
“On a well lit morning, one of the early days of July 2019, standing in a mirror at the second most read rectangular publication board (after NUESA Press) in the Faculty of Education, I scanned through the wealth of words before my naive mind. It would be the prints encoded within the byline ‘Karshams’ and also one of ‘Oluwatoyin Betterdays’ that arrested my seeking eyes; the former who I will later learn to be Kareem Shamsudeen - the Assesa Press Editor-in-chief while the later Oluwatoyin - UCJUI Politics Editor”
PREAMBLE
From the bank of the aphorism - The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step, mine was literally a very different stroll. Did I make a move with steps? I suppose not, considering the unclear mission before me. Like a high percentage of UI Freshers who always have their goals set for the new academic-life, I had nothing set within any corner of my clean yet troubled mind. Such as the Israelites who were not aware of the troubles ahead in pursuit of Cannan land, it started off blur for me. Imagine a boy coming from a two-year factory-hustle, atmospherically shaped under heated conditions, such was my status.
Gaining admission into the University of Ibadan was an unexpected feat, not because I was poor academically, but because it was a well fought battle within those conditions. Also, I had earlier gained admission to TASUED to study Economics Education in July 2018. Unexpectedly, I picked up the UI Post-Utme form on August 4, 2018, a day after I paid a huge 50k (considering the value of money then) acceptance fee to secure my TASUED admission. I will later forgo that fee after UI's admission.
Even though I never had it all (the little I desire), I was never meant to believe I was meant to have it all. This impacted my push to always give in my very best to all I get myself into. With a confidence born from my survival at Yale Foods as a contract staff for two whole years (June 2017 - June 2019) in the most severe heated condition, I was strongly prepared for the journey ahead even though I was totally in hue of what I wanted to venture into.
FIRST YEAR
Picking Economics Education during my Jamb Application wasn't what I really wanted. From the fear of failure and underperforming (even though it was my third Jamb, which one was for my polytechnic admission), I couldn't opt for Economics which I had desired. I had to choose Economics Education as a cover within this disguise. For me, studying Economics Education was closely accustomed to Economics which I will later learn that the former will earn me double honours - B.Sc Ed, this put to grave my plan to cross to Economics in my second year.
Prior to my UI entry, I have always filled my empty space of time with writing poems. With little circle of friends, I spent a lot of time alone either reading or writing poems. My flair for this was the main push for my entry into campus journalism. It was Toyin Becca, who I met at Jaja Clinic during my registration that introduced me to Karshams (Assesa Press Editor-in-chief) when I told her of my wish to see my poems published for all to read. Toyin Becca (as popularly called) will later become the Assesa President during my 200lv days.
I had contacted Karshams of this ambition who then informed me that for such to happen, I have to join the department Press. With my eyes set to seeing my poems published for all to see the pen name ‘Josmat Jerry’, I was ready to do anything for this. Contrary to my expectations of meeting a gigantic guy, I met this young looking dude (laughs) at the Assesa Press Board which I later learnt to be Karshams. I was also surprised that he was in his penultimate year with the thought that someone holding the position of Editor-in-chief will be in his final year. He informed me of the process to join Assesa Press and the fees to pay. I vividly recall I picked up both Assesa Press and UCJ form at that spot because I couldn’t delay seeing my poems on the publication board.
As part of the process to join Assesa Press, I was asked to write an essay on any story of interest which I submitted an article on broken homes. That will be my first ever article in writing. On joining Assesa Press, I then realized that my poems were not in any way as good as the ones I see on publication boards. During these periods (around mid of first semester), I had discovered my flair for putting things into writing other than expressing them orally. With this, I started writing random articles ranging from inspirational to motivational articles that are beneficial to students.
Even though I knew my writing was still not close to what could be referred as averagely good (as what I see on publication boards differs a lot from what I submitted), I kept on writing. I ensured I noted all corrections made in the previous articles by placing it side by side. I recall I will wait endlessly for Assesa Press Board Publications, stay there and read through all publications including mine. One thing I was grateful for was that my article always made it to the publication board (even though with lots of corrections, thanks to Karshams for the patience and encouragement) this made me push harder and harder to always turn in something better than the previous.
Also, with much focus on academics which I will later in the semester become accustomed to Kenneth Dike Library and likewise devote my nights to exploring the pages of my Economics notes at the Faculty of Technology Large Lecture Theatre (TLT), the pressure became more intense following a 7/20 test score in CEF 102 - History and Policy of Education, which was a faculty course (I later had a B - 64 in the course). With courses like almighty GCE 101 known for sixty theory questions under 2 hrs, Eco 101 and 104, I knew I had to start burying my heads at KDL during the day and burn the candles at TLT during the night.
For the second semester, I improved in my article writings. I turn in my features articles every week, even though it was always 1 per week, but I ensured I put in my best and maintained consistency. Later in the semester, I became an inducted member of UCJ after passing the induction examination, joined Polity Reporters (founded by a colleague Reformed - Isaac Boluwatife, who is also an Assesaite) becoming the General Editor, Campus News as Politics Writer and also joined Indy Press during the 10th week of the semester. I will later be rewarded with the position of Features Editor of Assesa Press for the 2020/2021 session which will be my second year. At this point, Karshams was elected as the UCJUI Editor-in-chief under the 33rd UCJ Administration and Fatimah Fasasi became the Assesa Press Editor-in-chief.
I had known faces in Assesa Press such as Herald (Temitayo), Betterdays, Blessing, Emperor (Sports Writer), Folarin Peace (FPO) and others which I can’t recall for now. During the session, I had also learnt the ways of the press and affiliations to UCJ, what journalism is as a whole, various desks and administrations, Press nights and roles of the Press during elections and my responsibilities as a campus journalist. I also made the cut to a 10-man nomination list of UCJUI Award for the Most Promising Campus Journalist, an award which Williams Owoeye of Indy Press will later win. In academics, even within the Eco sheges, I ended up with a 3.44 CGPA as at 100lv.
SECOND YEAR
The Covid-19 pandemic which heavily disrupted the academic proceedings in some way was a time of growth for me. I spent a major part of that period writing articles for Polity Reporters, Campus News and features for UCJ. I had become a features desk correspondence under Dolapo (can't recall her first name), who was the UCJ Features Editor. With Karshams at the helm of UCJ Editorial discharge, I was able to move closer to UCJ and learn its dimensions. With weekly articles submission to UCJ, a weekly column of Politics stories for Campus News, and learning the ways of an Editor at Polity Reporters, I was starting to grow in journalism.
One thing I hold dear after my life is consistency. Perhaps because it has always worked for me (which I believe should be a general process), I had conditioned my mind that with consistency comes growth, and with growth comes betterment. I ensured that no matter the condition, be it one I can control or not, I will never fail to discharge my duties. Upon resumption in Feb/March 2021, mounting my duty as the Assesa Press Features Editor was like a walk in the park for me considering what I had been involved in during the all long compulsory break. At some point during the first semester, writing and editing articles became a part of me. It became as easy as ABC which allowed me to pour an additional effort towards academics.
At this point, due to the pandemic, there have been some changes in Press activities. Most Press organizations now publish online using blogs and other modifications; same for Assesa Press. But some, including Assesa Press, resumed maintaining the board publication during the second semester; considering the fact that the first semester was a complete virtual lecture.
I would receive a major blow to my campus journalism career after I was suddenly kicked out of Indy Press. It will be a clash between UCJ and Polity Reporters that resulted in I being part of the sacrificial lamb of this scenario. This again led to my shift from Polity Reporters after I had picked up the Overall Best Writer and Editor of the Year Award during the 1 year celebration of Polity Reporters in Feb., 2021. I had also left Campus News due to an administration change and a need to focus more on academics, Assesa Press and UCJ. During the year, I made an application to Peacepace Initiative as a content writer (also volunteering) where I write stories on peace related topics till date.
I recall spending most of my nights reading at one of the Faculty of Vet.Medicine's lecture rooms during the first semester. At some point, I made use of the Department of Theatre Arts's dancing hall with couple of Edu/Eco guys and also some ‘freezy’ nights at the NFLT staircase jacking Education courses with Osungade Ayomide, a very dear friend. I was indeed known to be someone who receives academic strength from overnight reading. What I fail to grab during the day, I ensure it sticks - by fire by force - during the night.
Within my second year, I had concentrated more on writing feature articles that hold political office holders to account, most of which were directed to Assesa Executives. During this time, one or two of my articles had also featured as Editorial for Assesa Press. As a UCJ Senator, I had attended the Union’s senate sitting where I had encountered a host of top campus journalists across different halls of residences, faculties and departments (back then, departments were still recognised as LPO under the UCJUI constitution prior to the amendment of this section later that year). I had also joined the UCJUI Fact Checking team, headed by Tijani Abdulkabeer, where we fact checked for the 2021 Jaw War rounds.
The change of my pen name from ‘Josmat Jerry’ to ‘The Scribe’ came at the end of my 200lv. Due to my consistency in articles submission, Dolapo (UCJ Features Editor), in of the week echoed the phrase ‘My Scribe’ after I submitted my article that very night, minutes to deadline. I had immediately searched through the dictionary to find out that Scribe translates to mean ‘one who writes’. I fell in love with the word and decided to adopt it as my pen name come my third year.
At the end of my 200lv days, I was reappointed as Assesa Press Features Editor 1, with Obadina Seilat as Features Editor 2. Herald (Temitayo) will take the mantle from Fatimah as the next Assesa Press Editor-in-chief and Blessing Opeyemi as the News Editor. We’ve also had new faces in Assesa Press such as Seilat, Hamdalat, Eniola and a host of others. In UCJ, I will later be appointed by Oluwatobi Odeyinka, the new Editor-in-chief under the Ibukunoluwa Dada Led 34th Administration, as the UCJ Politics Editor; a role and desk I was completely new to. Academically, I was flying high with a CGPA of 3.62.
